- Centella asiatica is credited to four triterpenes: asiaticoside, madecassoside, asiatic acid and madecassic acid.
- A published review reports improved re-epithelialization, increased collagen synthesis and reduced inflammation around wounds in the studies it gathered.
- The same review says further clinical studies are urgently required because of the low level of evidence, and found only four human clinical trials.
- Study concentrations, extracts and vehicles differ from a finished cosmetic cream, so laboratory results do not transfer neatly to a jar.
- A cica cream is not a medical treatment. Persistent redness, itching or broken skin belongs with a clinician.
What Is a Cica Cream?
A cica cream is a moisturizer built around Centella asiatica, a plant used in traditional medicine across Asia and now common in Korean skincare. The nickname comes from cica, short for the plant name, and the category is usually aimed at skin that reacts easily.
Calling something a cica cream tells you one ingredient is present. It does not tell you how much, in what form, or what else is in the jar. Two products with the same shelf label can behave very differently, so the ingredient list matters more than the category name.
What Does Centella Asiatica Actually Contain?
The plant's activity is usually credited to four triterpenes. A 2020 review in Frontiers in Pharmacology names them as asiaticoside, madecassoside, asiatic acid and madecassic acid, and reports that Centella and its triterpenoids improved re-epithelialization, increased collagen synthesis and reduced inflammation around wounds in the studies it gathered.
In cosmetic formulas these compounds usually arrive as part of a standardized extract rather than as isolated actives. That is why a cica cream is best read as a soothing-oriented moisturizer rather than as a delivery system for a single measured dose.
- Asiaticoside and madecassoside. The two glycosides most often named on cosmetic ingredient lists.
- Asiatic acid and madecassic acid. The corresponding acids, generally present in smaller amounts.
- The rest of the formula. Humectants, emollients and occlusives still do most of the day-to-day comfort work.
How Strong Is the Evidence for Cica in Skincare?
Promising, and thinner than the marketing suggests. The same review is direct about the gap: it concludes that further clinical studies are urgently required due to the low level of evidence and the lack of patients, and it identified only four human clinical trials in its search.
There is a second gap worth knowing. Much of the published work uses concentrations, extracts and vehicles that differ from a finished cosmetic cream, and the review notes that the vehicles were different across studies. So laboratory findings do not transfer neatly to a jar on a bathroom shelf.
Who Is a Cica Cream Actually For?
It suits skin that feels reactive to ordinary things: a weather change, dry indoor air, pollution, or a new active introduced too quickly. The goal is comfort and a calmer-looking surface rather than correction of a specific concern.
It is not a medical product. A cica cream is not a treatment for eczema, dermatitis or any diagnosed skin condition, and persistent redness, itching or broken skin belongs with a clinician rather than a shopping decision. If you already have a diagnosis, ask what fits alongside your prescribed care.
How Do You Test One Before Committing?
Patch test, and give it long enough to mean something. The American Academy of Dermatology suggests choosing a quarter-sized spot where the product will not be rubbed or washed away, such as the underside of the arm or the bend of the elbow, and applying it twice daily for seven to ten days.
Use the normal amount you would use in a routine. If no red, itchy or swollen skin appears in that window, the product is reasonable to use. If a reaction does appear, wash it off promptly, stop using it, and soothe the area with a cool compress. Fragrance is a common trigger, so check that line on the label first.
Where Protecting Cream Fits
Alpen MOOR 1618 Protecting Cream is a Centella asiatica cream for skin that reacts to weather changes, pollution, a new active, or long days in dry indoor air. Centella arrives as part of MultiEx BSASM Plus, a patented blend of seven botanical extracts that also includes green tea and licorice root, alongside allantoin and trifoliate orange extract. Argan, sunflower seed and macadamia seed oils replenish dry skin, and the silky texture absorbs quickly without sitting heavy under sunscreen or makeup.
Two things we would rather say plainly. The formula contains fragrance, so it may not suit every highly reactive user, and patch testing matters more here than the category label. And while it is dermatologically tested with an EXCELLENT rating by Dermatest Germany, it is made for dry, sensitive and easily irritated skin rather than as a medical treatment for eczema. For related reading see our guide to a damaged skin barrier and to prebiotic moisturizers, or browse the redness collection.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is cica cream good for eczema?
A cica cream is a cosmetic moisturizer, not a medical treatment for eczema or any diagnosed skin condition. It may make dry, easily irritated skin feel more comfortable, but a persistent rash needs a clinician rather than a new jar.
Can you use cica cream every day?
Most are designed for daily use, morning and evening, and follow the directions on the label. Introduce it on its own rather than alongside several other new products, so that you can tell what your skin is actually responding to.
Is centella the same as tiger grass?
Yes, tiger grass is a common nickname for Centella asiatica, and the two names appear interchangeably on packaging. The name says nothing about how much extract a formula contains or how it was standardized, so read the ingredient list.
Does a cica cream replace a moisturizer?
Usually not, because a cica cream is a moisturizer with a soothing focus rather than an extra step. Judge it as you would any moisturizer: texture, comfort through the day, and whether it works under sunscreen and makeup.
